European Textile Industry Demands 10 Euros Processing Fee on Every Small Package

Tuesday 01 September 2026 - 13:24

Online commerce from Asia is facing a new offensive from European manufacturers. The main textile federations across the continent are urging Brussels to set a 10 euro processing fee per small package for imported goods, primarily from China.

This proposal comes as the European Union seeks to curb the dramatic rise in low-value shipments and to rebalance competition between Asian digital platforms and European players.

European Textile Industry Aims for More

Gathered at the professional trade show Première Vision, representatives of the European textile industry have called on the European Commission to consider a significantly higher amount than what is currently proposed.

European institutions indeed plan to implement, starting in November, additional processing fees for small packages. The exact amount has not yet been finalized and could, based on available information, be around 2 euros per package.

Thus, the request from textile federations represents a much more ambitious proposal.

Significant Import Volumes

The surge in online orders has profoundly changed the landscape of European commerce. By 2025, nearly 5.9 billion small packages are expected to enter the European Union market.

China alone accounted for 93% of these shipments, representing a considerable volume of goods shipped directly to European consumers.

The pace is also staggering: over 180 small packages per second are estimated to have entered the European market in 2025, a volume four times higher than that observed in 2022.

For textile professionals, this growth fuels competition that they find difficult to sustain under the same conditions.

Shein, Temu, and AliExpress Under Scrutiny

Platforms such as Shein, Temu, and AliExpress have gained a foothold among European consumers thanks to an extremely wide range of products and particularly low prices.

However, their model, largely based on direct shipping of products from Asia, is increasingly challenged by traditional players.

European federations particularly denounce the environmental consequences linked to the proliferation of small shipments, as well as what they consider to be unbalanced competitive conditions.

The aim of the European measures is therefore twofold: to better regulate these flows and to make the concerned operators bear part of the costs associated with their processing.

A First Tax Already Applied

The European Union has already taken a first step. Since July 1, 2026, imported small packages are subject to a tax of 3 euros per product category.

This measure is reported to have already had a significant effect on import volumes. According to figures released last week by the French Ministry of Economy, arrivals of small packages on the European market have decreased by 30 to 40%.

The evolution shows that the new rules are beginning to change the market dynamics, even though their long-term impact remains difficult to measure.

A Battle Beyond the Fashion Sector

Behind the demand for 10 euros put forward by textile manufacturers lies a broader question: the future of the low-cost e-commerce platform business model in Europe.

A significant increase in fees could make certain orders less attractive to consumers and alter the logistical strategies of Asian platforms. It could also favor European companies that already bear different regulatory, tax, and environmental obligations.

The European Commission will now have to arbitrate between the desire to better control the flow of goods, protect the internal market, and the potential consequences of new charges on consumers.

With billions of packages involved each year, the debate surrounding small packages has become a major issue in European commerce.